we stand right now at three days and counting until that new year's deadline when taxes would go up for all u.s. taxpayers and steep spending cuts would kick in across the board. nicole collins has the latest. >> reporter: john boehner back in washington immediately heading to the white house, which brought the president and congressional leaders together the first time since november, but it's unclear if it brought the country closer to avoiding the fiscal cliff. >> when the president calls congressional leaders to the white house, it's all political theatre or they have a deal. not that it's all political theatre. >> this is not for show but a last-ditch effort by the president to bring congressional leader together to try to get a small package at least, a small deal together before the new year. >> reporter: the president called the meeting as lawmakers pointed fingers in this high- stakes game of chicken. >> the republicans who are holding hostage the middle class in america society wealthy don't have to pay their fair share. >> we need two words: presidential leadership on not jus